Universal Hub - All Boston, all the time

Doomstorm

adamg — Fri, 24 May 2013 22:44:44 +0000

Doom cloud

Gradon Tripp managed to photograph the giant cloud of doom about to crash down on 128 north around 4:30 p.m.

BREAKING: Will Dorcena does not make Mayor ballot

Douglas Bennett — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:37:20 +0000

According to the Boston Elections Department Election Commissioner Sabino Piemonte, Will Dorcena did not collect the necessary 3000 certified signatures to make the ballot for Boston Mayor in the September 24, 2013 Preliminary Election. It is reported he collected less than 2200 signatures. Dorcena who had been campaigning since Januaru 12, 2012, was the second candidate to enter the Mayoral Contest. The first candidate being Touch 106.1 Owner and Businessman Charles Clemons.

With Dorcena eliminated, it is unknown who will benefit from his absence from the race.

Developing...

Man couldn't cut the mustard at Forest Hills station because he didn't have a permit

adamg — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:10:59 +0000

Transit Police report arresting an itinerant hot-dog vendor who tried opening up one of the food stands inside the Orange Line station this morning without a permit - but with several outstanding warrants.

Police say a T worker called police around 5 a.m. when he realized something wasn't kosher, because the guy setting up the carts was not one of its usual workers.

Officers managed to ketchup with and grill Dana Reis, 56, of Medford; in fact, he was still at the cart when they arrived:

Sometimes, where there's smoke, there's practice fire

adamg — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:18:11 +0000

Around 9:30 a.m., several people reported a column of smoke rising from Logan Airport, including Screwed Up Rainbow, who posted this photo - along with a note that planes were continuing to take off.

AlertNewEngland, who knows about these things, and who keeps his ear tuned to the fire scanner, says it was probably just the fake plane the Massport Fire Department sets on fire every so often as a training exercise.

The yin and yang of commuter-rail maintenance

adamg — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:19:01 +0000

Well, looks like somebody was trying to liven up the job of cleaning commuter-rail trains - or maybe just welcoming those new Korean coaches coming online. Peter did the photographic honors.

Earlier:
The greatest example of MBCR train upkeep ever.

Citizen complaint of the day: Grumpy school-department worker is grumpy

adamg — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:53:09 +0000

Well, maybe if you were assigned a mini-van from the city motor pool, you'd be grumpy, too, but in any case, a blocked-in citizen reports from a parking lot on Commercial Street in the North End:

Spots were available, yet the school employee chose to block the whole lot, didn't respond to honking, and then yelled at the people he had trapped in the lot when he finally came out.

Snail trail

adamg — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:32:19 +0000

The snails were out in force on the sidewalks of Roxbury this morning, 99PercentBoston reports.

Chuck Turner readies for return to Boston, starts blog

adamg — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:29:44 +0000

The Jamaica Plain Gazette reports the erstwhile Roxbury city councilor expects to finish his federal bribery sentence in a Boston halfway house, starting in July.

The Gazette adds Turner is now also blogging, at Chuck Turner Analysis, where he focuses on national economics through a Boston lens:

Given the Pac Man like quality of gentrification, if Boston is to be a city affordable not only for all races but also all incomes, we have to have a strategy to mitigate the gentrifying effect of development. To provide an historical context for considering this question, this reflection will focus on the 1%'s manipulation of Boston’s political process after WW II and the creation of its development tool, Boston Redevelopment Authority.

Back Bay, Beacon Hill and some Cambridge Democrats to pick state-rep candidate next week

adamg — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:13:43 +0000

Wicked Local Cambridge reports on the race between Jay Livingstone and Josh Dawson to replace current state Rep. Marty Walz.

The primary is next Tuesday.

Bombing victim vows return to Boylston, Newbury streets

adamg — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:10:16 +0000

WBUR interviews Mery Daniel, who lost her left leg on April 15, on her release from Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. She talks of the changes she'll have to make in her life, but adds:

I love Boylston and Newbury street. I don't want to be afraid of that street. I want to go back to enjoy walking that street and go shopping.